Wrong. Success is inevitable only in hindsight. It’s easy to look back on an entrepreneurial path to greatness and assume that every vision was clear, every plan was perfect, every step was executed flawlessly, and tremendous success was a foregone conclusion.

It wasn’t. Success is never assured. Only in hindsight does it appear that way.

If you’re willing to work hard and persevere, who you are is more than enough. Don’t measure yourself against other people.

Pick a goal and measure yourself against that goal. That’s the only comparison that matters.

2. I can choose myself.

Like Seth Godin says, once you had to wait: to be accepted, to be promoted, to be selected… to somehow be “discovered.”

Not anymore. Access is nearly unlimited; you can connect with almost anyone through social media. You can publish your own work, distribute your own music, create your own products, or attract your own funding.

You can do almost anything you want — and you don’t need to wait for someone else to discover your talents.

The only thing holding you back is you — and your willingness to try.

3. I am not self-serving. I am a servant.

No one accomplishes anything worthwhile on his own. Great bosses focus on providing the tools and training to help their employees better do their jobs-and achieve their own goals. Great consultants put their clients’ needs first. Great businesses go out of their way to help and serve their customers.

And as a result, they reap the rewards.

If you’re in it only for yourself, then someday you will be by yourself. If you’re in it for others, you’ll not only achieve success.

You’ll also have tons of friends.

4. I may not be first … but I can always be last.

Success is often the result of perseverance. When others give up, leave, stop trying, or compromise their principles and values, the last person left is often the person who wins. Other people may be smarter, better connected, more talented, or better funded. But they can’t win if they aren’t around at the end.

Sometimes it makes sense to give up on ideas, projects, and even businesses — but it never makes sense to give up on yourself.

You can always be the last to give up on yourself.

5. I will do one thing every day that no one else is willing to do.

Just one. Even if it’s simple. Even if it’s small. Do one thing every day.